13 comments

You are entitled to object to this development, Kay Powell, but please don't make things up. It did NOT get planning permission by pretending to be a 'shopping precinct or farmers' market'. It got planning permission as a motorway service area and the local produce/food hall/charitable donations/community development stuff were immaterial considerations in planning terms.
It was not 'a cynical way to get around planning regulations'. They were all immaterial and irrelevant considerations. 'Someone very clever saw that there was a legal loophole in the wording of the law relating to motorway service areas.' No they didn't. There is no legal loophole in the wording of the law relating to motorway service areas, nor was one exploited.
And, LordGagas, there were no bungs.
Sorry to spoil all your conspiracy theories.

When I wrote 7,000 square metres, I must have meant the floorspace of the buildings. The actual area that will be covered by tarmac, buildings and other hard surfaces will be between 17 and 18 hectares.
Farmers can sell their produce at farmers' markets. This is a motorway service area, not a shopping precinct or farmers' market. It was a cynical way to get around planning regulations. Someone very clever saw that there was a legal loophole in the wording of the law relating to motorway service areas, and now 25 hectares of countryside between Gloucester and the Cotswold escarpment is going to be developed.

I think having service areas here that don't have the normal MD's, KFC, BK etc is a great idea, the jobs boost can only be a big plus, but I think there is very much a 'club' surrounding the whole venture, unless there is an option for small local businesses to get a foot in the door. I do worry why there are a lot of Breweries listed in the local suppliers, this is a motorway service area, not a pub, we should not be encouraging consuming alcohol in anyway there, I am surprised licencing allowed it, or is this where the 'bung' statement someone else made came from. Also as a 24/7 operation they should be providing hot food 24/7, many a time I have been travelling through the night, and welcome not food, a sandwich isn't going to satisfy the truck drivers who would use it, they will probably drive on to Strensham, Los this needs to be looked at again. In all I think it will bring something extra to the area :)

Kay, I think their philosophy is great, then amount going into the local communities each year is great boost. Not all the jobs will be the best paid (cleaners etc). Most motorway services are a rip off charging massively inflated prices for what is basically just junk food! This adventure sounds as if they will be preparing fresh food on site every day of the week produced from local sources, this means a reduction in food mileage!

Greenwash. Remember, this huge development is taking up 25 hectares of open countryside that was previously farmland, and the tarmac and buildings will eventually cover 7,000 square metres. There are now plans to build other developments nearby, including a hotel, so I've heard. Wait and see how the countryside will be further destroyed and degraded.